Bale-band fastener.



No. 639,695. Patented Dec. I9, |899.

D. M. CAMPBELL.

'BALE BAND FASTENER.

(Application led Aug. 5, 1899.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

DOUGLAS M. CAMPBELL, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO SINCLAIR TALIAFERRO, OF SAME PLACE.

FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,69 5, dated December 19, 1899.

Application led August 5, 1899- To all whom it may concern: A

Be it known that I, DOUGLAS M. CAMPBELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Houston, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Bale- Band Fastener, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to bale-band fastenings; andithas for its object to provide anew and useful device of this character having simple and efficient means for exerting a powerful tension upon the bale-band, so as to take up all slack therein and secure the same tightly about the bale.

To this end the invention .contemplates a bale-band fastening or buckle adapted to be applied with the aid of a hand tool or wrench in a manner somewhat similar to the application of the bale-tie covered by my former patent, No. 609,872, issued August 30, 1898; butin the present invention the device includes members which provied for taking up a maximum amount ofslack with a minimum movement and also to secure the band against the possibility of loosening or the ends thereof rending apart.

A further object of the invention is to construct the members of the device in such a way that the ends of the bale-bandv may be quickly fitted thereto,while at the same time providing a construction occupying a comparatively small space and capable of easy manipulation.

Another object of the invention is to pro- Vide simple and improved means for positively obviating slipping or breakage of the band and buckle.

lVith these and other objects in view,which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

The invention essentially comprises in its organization a buckle-plate, through which the ends of the band are threaded,and a locking member or device having a coupling connection with said plate to prevent uubending or unwindingof the lapped ends of the bands after said plate has been turned bodily upon one edge as a fulcrum; but these members Serial No. 726,302. (No modelJ may be combined in various ways and, in fact, divers modifications may be resorted to lWithout departing from the principle of the invention; but the preferred embodiment of 5 5 the improvements is'shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective View of a baleband fastening constructed in accordance with the presentinvention, showingthe same 6o open in its initial position with the lapped ends of the bale-band threaded therethrough. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the construction shown in Fig. l, illustratingthebuckle-plate as it is being bodily turned through the medium of the hand tool or wrench, the latter being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the fastening or buckle, showing the lapped ends of the band wound upon the buckle-plate and the latter locked against 7o turning. Fig. 4 is a detail in perspective of a modification, showing the parts in position about to be interlocked. Fig. 5 is a detail in.

perspective of the hand tool or wrench for turning the' buckle-plate.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The baleband fastening or buckle forming the subject-matter of the present application 8o essentially comprises a buckle-plate 1 and a locking member or catch 2, which in the preferred forms of the invention are preferably pivotally coupled together by aloose coupling 3, as shown in Figs. l to 4, inclusive.

In carrying out the invention thebuckleplate l constitutes a winding member. This member preferably consists of an approximately rectangular flat plate closed upon all sides andl provided therein with a band-re- 9o ceiving eye or opening 4, which is sufficiently large to freely and loosely receive therein the lapped ends of an ordinary bale-baud 5, as will be hereinafter more fully explained; and at this point it may be understood that while the device is essentially designed for use as a fastening for the bands of cotton-bales the same is necessarily capable of general application to bands of bales of hay or other packages.

The at open-center winding member or buckle-plate l is provided at the opposite sides IOC thereof with what may be properly termed fulcrum-bars 6, which constitute integral parts of the plate and are preferably provided with beveled edges 7, that impinge upon the lapped ends of the bale-band and form fulcrum-points, upon which the band bends. On account of these beveled fulcrum edges the bends in the band will be close and sharp, thus insuring a firm engagement of the buckleplate or winding member with the band, so that slipping of the parts is reduced to a minimum while the plate is being turned to wind up or fold the band thereon.

yIn addition to the fulcrum-bars G the buckleplate l in the form shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3 of the drawings has projected from one edge thereof a pair of lateral catch-hooks S,which coperate with the lock member or catch 2 in the manner hereinafter explained, the points or bills of said hooks being offset laterally from one of the fiat sides of the plate, so as to properly engage with the lock member or catch when the buckle-plate is turned flat upon the bale.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. l to 3, inclusive, the buckle-plate 1 is also preferably of a tapering width, widening out toward the side opposite the catch-hooks 8, and is provided with a widened side bar 9, which forms a reinforced or strengthened en gaging portion for the hand wrench or tool. As already explained, the buckleplate or winding member 1 is preferably connected with the lock member or catch 2 by the coupling 3, and in the construction shown in said Figs. l to 3, inclusive, the lock member or catch 2 is in the form of a rectangular loop or bail and the coupling 8 consists of a wire link. This link comprises a wire body looped at one end to form a pair of pivot-eyes 10, loosely receiving one of the fulcrum-bars 6 of the buckle-plate, said loop being also provided with the parallel side arms 11. The side arms 11 of the wire coupling-link are provided at their ends opposite the pivot-eyes 10 with the elongated or slotted loops 12,which loosely receive one of the side bars of the locking member or bail 2, so that the latter is free to swing in engagement with the catch-hooks 8 of the buckleplate or winding member l. The said coupling 3, which loosely connects the buckle-plate or winding member 1 with the lock member or catch 2, renders the device perfectly' reliable in action and easily manipulated, as the said couplingb permits of the necessary free movement of the parts, so that they will readily adjust themselves to the work, while at the same time always maintaining the lock member or catch in operative relation to the hooks of the buckle-plate or winding member.

To provide for applying the device to a baleband, there is employed a hand Wrench or tool 13 of the type disclosed in my former patent, hereinbefore referred to. This hand Wrench or tool 13 is provided with the usual ratchethead 14, in which is fitted the shank 15 of a turning key or bit 1G. The turning key or bit 16 is provided with a wide bifurcated head 17, adapted to engage over and secure afirm purchase upon the widened engaging bar 9 of the buckle-plate, so that the latter may be turned bodily under force to provide for winding up or folding the lapped ends of the baleband thereon.

In applying the device to a bale-band one end of the band 5 is threaded through the locking member or bail 2 and thence under one of the fulcrum-bars 6 of the buckle-plate 1 and through the eye 4 thereof, while the other end of the bale-band is lapped over the aforesaid end and under the said fulcrumbar. The terminal of the said other end of the band terminates short of the locking member'or bail 2, as plainly shown in Fig. l of the drawings, so that both terminals of the baleband will be entirely covered when the fastening device is locked in its closed position, as plainly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, thus leaving no protruding ends, as is common in other types of bale-fastenings. After threading the ends of the bale-band through the device, as described, the turning key or bit 1G is engaged with the Wide side bar 9 of the buckleplate and through the medium of the wrench or tool the said plate is turned bodily upon one edge as a fulcrum. Thus being turned, the lapped ends of the bale-band are bent upon the fulcrum-bars 6 and the slack of the band thereby Wound upon the buckle-plate. It will be observed that the buckle-plate is onlyintended to make ahalf-turn, butin making this turn Will wind up thereon double its length or width of the band, thereby taking up a maximum amount of slack with a minimum movement. When the buckle-plate has been completely turned, the operator with his free hand swings the locking member or bail 2 in engagement with the hooks 8, thereby locking the buckle-plate or winding member against backward movement, with a consequent unwinding of the band. If the cotton or other material of the bale is firm, the buckle or fastening Will remain in a flat position; otherwise the edge upon which the buckleplate turns as a fulcrum will bury itself in the cotton or other material and permit the entire fastening to turn slightly endwise; but the tapering width of the plate l prevents the locking member or bail 2 slipping materially away from the catch-hook 8.

'lo unlock the fastener, the wrench or tool may be applied to ease up the buckle-plate to permit of the disengagement of the locking member or bail from the catch-hooks thereof.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings precisely the same combination of parts is involved as in the construction illustrated in Figs. l to 3, inclusive; butthe shape of these parts is slightly changed.

Referring more particularly to the construction shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, it may be observed that the flat buckle-plate 1 instead of having catch-hooks projecting from IOO IIO

one edge thereof is provided at one side with laterally-offset curved catch-hooks 8a, which necessarily maintain the same positions as the points or bills of the catch-hooks 8 in the construction already described. In the modiication referred to the locking member or bail 2 and the coupling 3 are in the form of substantially U -shaped bails pivotally joined together and the coupling being pivotally connected With one side of the buckle-plate or Winding member in order that the operation already described may be carried out. This operation is precisely the same as described in connection with the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive.

Other modifications will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A bale band fastening comprising a buckle-plate having a band-receiving eye or opening, and adapted to have the slack of the band Wound thereon, a locking member, and a coupling between the buckle-plate and the locking member, the said buckle-plate, the locking member, and the coupling connection having the band threaded therethrough.

2. A bale band fastening, comprising a buckle-plate having a band-receiving eye or opening and adapted to turn bodily upon one edge as a fulcrum, and a locking device for the plate having a swinging coupling connection therewith.

3. A bale band fastening, comprising a buckle-plate having a band-receiving eye or opening, and a locking member pivotally coupled with the plate and having an interlocking engagement therewith, said locking member, the plate and the coupling connection having the band threaded therethrough.

4. A bale-band fastening, comprising a flat buckle-plate having a band-receiving eye or opening, and catch-hooks, a swinging locking-bail, and a coupling-link pivotally connected to said bail and to the buckle-plate.

5. A bale-band fastening, comprising a flat buckle-plate adapted to turn bodily upon one edge as a fulcrum, said plate being of a tapering width and provided with a band-receiving eye or opening, and at one side With a pair of lateral catch-hooks, a locking-bail adapted to engage with the catch-hooks of the buckle-plate, and a coupling-link pivotally connected at opposite ends respectively, with one side bar of the buckle-plate, and With said locking-bail, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

DOUGLAS M. CAMPBELL.

Witnesses:

JACOB C. BALDWIN, D. C. HUSKEY. 

